Curriculum Areas: Language arts/math/social studies/science Grade Level: 5 and up if students design the WebQuest (or all grade levels if the teacher designs the WebQuest) Application: Microsoft PowerPointŪ 2002 Tip: Use PowerPoint to design a WebQuest Description: PowerPoint is used to create a WebQuest, either by students in the upper grades or by teachers, for use with their students. The WebQuest model was developed in early 1995 at San Diego State University by Bernie Dodge with Tom March. A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by students is gathered from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use students' time efficiently, because students focus on using information rather than looking for it.
A well-written WebQuest requires students to go beyond simple fact finding. It asks them to analyze a variety of resources and use their creativity and critical-thinking skills to solve a problem. WebQuests help students analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information. To see some examples of WebQuests, visit the Matrix of Examples.
The elements of a good WebQuest are the:
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Introduction--Introduces the activity or lesson to the students. The purpose of the Introduction is to prepare and hook the reader. If there is a role or scenario involved (e.g., "You are a space traveler and need to get to each planet and gather crucial information before your ship disintegrates"), here is where you'll set the stage.
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Task--Describes what the result of the learners' activities will be. If the product involves using some tool (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, the Web), mention it here.
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Process--The steps the learners should go through to accomplish the Task. The Resources should be incorporated here, too (e.g., Web sites). If students will be working in groups, mention the steps that the group needs to accomplish.
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Evaluation--Describes how the students' performance will be evaluated. Specifies whether there will be a common grade for group work vs. individual grades. A rubric is an effective way to evaluate the students' performance.
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Conclusion--Summarizes what the students will have accomplished or learned by completing this activity. You might also include some abstract questions or additional links to encourage students to go beyond the content of the WebQuest.
Be tied to local, state, or national curriculum standards.
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Replace a lesson that you're not totally satisfied with.
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Make good use of the Web.
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Require a degree of understanding that goes beyond mere comprehension.
How to:
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Before you start PowerPoint, decide what your WebQuest topic or project will be. Start planning your WebQuest by writing ideas for your Introduction, Task, Process (including online resources), Evaluation, and Conclusion.
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Start PowerPoint, and then select a Design Template to use for your WebQuest. (Click the Design button on the Formatting toolbar to display the Slide Design Task Pane.)
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Type your WebQuest title on the first slide. Add a subtitle (this could be your name or the names of the people in your group).
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Click the New Slide button on the Formatting toolbar, and then type the title of your WebQuest in the title area of the new slide. In the area of the slide for the bulleted list, type the main parts of the WebQuest: Introduction, Task, Process (including online resources), Evaluation, and Conclusion.
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Switch to Outline view by clicking the Outline button at the top of the pane on the left. The text of your slides appears in the left pane instead of a miniature version of each slide. Click the New Slide button to add a third slide. In the Outline view, type Introduction as the title for slide 3. Press ENTER to add the next slide. In the Outline view, continue typing the titles for the next three slides (Task, Process, Evaluation, and Conclusion).
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When you are ready to type your Introduction, in the Outline view, click that slide in the Outline view (or in the main pane, where the actual slides are displayed, scroll up to that slide), and type the introduction to your WebQuest. If you don't need a bulleted list, turn off the bullets by clicking the Bullets button on the Formatting toolbar.
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Continue typing the text for the other slides. If you need more than one slide to explain or introduce the content, just add another slide as a continuation of the previous one. If you need some assistance with any part of a WebQuest, including how to design a rubric for the Evaluation, take a look at the resources on Bernie Dodge's Web site.
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To link text to an online resource, select the text, and then click the Insert Hyperlink button on the Standard toolbar (it looks like a globe with a chain). Click Existing File or Web Page, and then type the Web address (URL) in the Address box. Click OK. You'll notice that this link won't work unless you are in Slide Show view.
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To jazz up your WebQuest, add some pictures to your slides. You might also want to make a picture a hyperlink. To do so, select the picture, and then click the Insert Hyperlink button.
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To make your WebQuest more interactive, create links from each item on slide 2 to its corresponding slide. For example, select the word Introduction on slide 2, and then click the Insert Hyperlink button. Click Place in This Document, and then click the Introduction slide (most likely slide 3). Click OK. On your slide, the word Introduction should appear with an underline, just as links on Web sites do.
NOTE: The hyperlinks you add won't work until you are in Slide Show view.
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Continue linking each item on slide 2 to its corresponding slide in your presentation. Test your links by viewing the slide show (click the Slide Show button at the bottom left of your screen).
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To make it easier for other students to navigate through your WebQuest, add navigation buttons such as Next Slide or Previous Slide. For example, view slide 1, and then click the Slide Show menu. Click Action Buttons, and then click the Forward or Next button. Near the bottom-right corner of your slide, click and drag a new button, which others will be able to use to move to the next slide. When you release the mouse button, the Action Settings dialog box appears. Make sure Next Slide appears in the Hyperlink to box. If you want a sound to play when someone clicks this button, select a sound effect from the Play sound text box. Click OK. Continue adding more navigation buttons to the other slides, so the users of your WebQuest will be able to move from one slide to another, especially back to the second slide, where the list of items appears.
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For a final touch, add some slide transitions so that each slide appears with a special effect, including a sound. To do this, click Slide Show, and then Slide Transition. In the Slide Transition Task Pane, choose the settings you want.
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Remember to save your presentation frequently. When you're finished with your WebQuest, view it by clicking the Slide Show button in the lower-left corner of the window. Test all your links before you let anyone else use the WebQuest.
Publishing Tip: You can save your final WebQuest in a Web format (.htm) in case you decide to publish it on your school's Web site. Just select Save as Web Page from the File menu. In the Save As dialog box, click Publish. In the Publish as Web Page dialog box, make the necessary choices (including those in the Web Options section), and then click Publish.
